🧸Team Building Idea of the Week: Acrylic Pour (Paint a Bear)
Looking for a creative, relaxed, and utterly memorable team building activity? Enter the Acrylic Pour “Paint a Bear” workshop at ArtPlay London in Shoreditch. It’s one of those rare gems that combines artistic expression, laughter, collaboration - and nobody has to be Michelangelo.
Here’s why this could be your next team outing.
What Is the Acrylic Pour (Paint a Bear) Workshop?
The workshop is a Private Sip & Pour Acrylic Pour session, where team members get hands-on with pouring acrylic paints over a bear-shaped canvas (or bear form). Everything you need (paints, materials, space) is provided.
It’s designed for people with no prior art experience, just a willingness to try something new, get a little messy, enjoy the process.
As the name suggests, there’s a sip element (drinks / refreshments) to make it more social and relaxed.
The session is held at ArtPlay London’s Shoreditch location. UK vibes, cool creative space, good for teams.
You can see more details / book via this link: Private Sip & Pour Acrylic Pour>>
Why It’s Great for Team Building
Here are several reasons this is more than just a fun afternoon out - it can actually help your team:
Creativity & experimentationPouring paint is unpredictable. Colours mix and flow in surprising ways. This encourages letting go of perfection, embracing chance, and experimenting, good vibes for team-mindset.
Ice breaking & bonding Because you’re not doing something overly serious or “corporate”, people relax, laugh, share materials, comment on each others’ designs. Helps build rapport and camaraderie.
Inclusive & low pressure No one is expected to be “good at art”. Everyone can achieve something beautiful. That level playing field helps those who might be shy or think they’re “not creative”.
Tangible outcome Each participant leaves with a physical artwork - a painted bear-form. Great as a keepsake, or something to display in the office, as conversation starters, reminders of team time together.
Creative refresh & mental reset Getting away from screens, usual meeting rooms, doing something hands-on and sensory, this kind of workshop resets energy, and the communal, playful environment tends to boost morale.
How to Plan It & Practical Tips
To make the most of this workshop for your team, a few tips:
Aspect | Suggestion |
Group size | Works well for small to medium teams (say 5-20 people). If larger, coordinate with ArtPlay to ensure enough space / facilitators. |
Duration | Plan for ~1.5 to 2 hours. Some time for intro / demo, pouring, drying or wrap-up. |
Refreshments / snacks | Make sure there’s some light food & drinks (ArtPlay tends to include sip/drink). Helps people warm up, chat, relax. |
Clothing | Acrylic pour can be messy. Encourage wearing clothes you don’t mind getting paint drops on. ArtPlay usually supplies aprons etc. |
Timing | Mid-afternoon or early evening often works best: not too early (people still heavy from lunches etc), not too late (public transport concerns, energy dips). |
Follow-up | After the workshop, you can have a mini “gallery” moment: everyone shows their bear, talks about colours/choices. Good for team reflection / laughs. |
When & How to Book
As with any popular creative workshop, book ahead, especially for private / corporate sessions. The ArtPlay workshop page above has the pricing, availability, and booking details.
If you have specific needs (e.g. particular colour palettes, branding touches, accommodating large numbers, dietary needs), contact ArtPlay in advance - they’re quite used to organising private & corporate bookings.
Verdict
If you’re looking for a team building activity that’s light, creative, inclusive, and memorable, the Acrylic Pour workshop at ArtPlay London is a strong pick. Ideal for bringing teams together in a way that’s low-stakes but high on fun. And you get art to take away too - that’s always a win.n Linkedin
